- 1). Call or email in advance to inquire about the hotel's payment and deposit policies. Major chains in particular might try to avoid your question and encourage you to use a credit card, but if you ask specific questions and/or ask to speak to a manager it often happens that some other kind of payment arrangements can be made.
- 2). Pay with a debit card. Paying by debit card is easy and convenient for both parties, as it is much like using a credit card. But remember--the hotel will likely put a hold of $100 a day or more on your account, as well as the amount for the room charges. So make sure you have sufficient funds and do not expect to have access to the hold amount for several days.
- 3). Pay with PayPal. Using PayPal to book and pay for your hotel means you can take care of everything in advance online. The hotel puts a hold on a specific amount of funds in your PayPal account for both room charges and deposit, and then you approve the final amount to be withdrawn during check out.
- 4). Pay in cash. While some major hotel chains require a credit card or electronic banking deposit, many hotels will still accept a several hundred dollar cash deposit or prepaying for the rooms in cash. This is especially true if you are traveling with luggage, or have good credit or local references, according to USA Today Travel Tips.
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